Full of straight-ahead, always-inventive hard bop, this set tracks John Coltrane's artistic development from his first Prestige date in 1955 for Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet to the final one in late 1958. Liner notes by veteran music journalist and Coltrane biographer Ashley Kahn single out the saxophonist's "penchant for brooding, minor-key melodies" and "talent at recasting decades-old themes with a modern touch" and provide an in-depth look at these timeless performances (born, astonishingly, of three-hour recording dates). Songs include "Lush Life," "Billie's Bounce," "'Round Midnight," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Minor Mishap," "Russian Lullaby," "Monk's Mood," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Straight Street," "I Want to Talk About You," and "Why Was I Born?"